Anne of Mansfeld-Hinterort

At the table

Beer and milk were daily beverages

Beer served as a major beverage for the general population in northern areas like Hesse, as it was safer and more flavorful than water. Milk and whey were also common daily drinks for rural families, while wine was typically reserved for festive occasions and holidays.

What people wore

Essential Daily Aprons for Women

Peasant women typically wore an apron over their dress throughout the day because most household chores were messy. This apron often extended to the feet and could also cover their torso.

Getting around

Slow pace of travel

Travel was slow and unpredictable, with average travelers covering only 30 to 45 kilometers per day, though some could reach up to 80 kilometers. Journeys were often delayed by poor road conditions, weather, or the need to stop for horse fodder every 20 to 40 kilometers.

What it cost

Meat prices and daily wages

A daily wage for a laborer in Augsburg was equivalent to the value of 5 to 6 pounds of the best meat. In Bavaria, one pound of the best beef cost 2 pfennige, while a day laborer earned 18 pfennige daily.

Music

Popular Wedding and Civic Musicians

In German cities around 1500, a common ensemble for weddings was the pipe and drum, with performers sometimes earning half a guilder for their services. These musicians were frequently hired alongside or to alternate with town pipers (Stadtpfeifer) who played brass instruments like shawms and trombones.

Daily life

Small, dark peasant homes housing livestock

Ordinary peasant homes were typically small, dark, two-room huts made from materials like mud and straw, often featuring dirt floors and thatched roofs with few or no windows to keep out the cold. In many households, it was common to bring livestock inside during the winter to keep them warm and safe.